Gontenschwil
Encyclopedia
Gontenschwil is a municipality
in the district of Kulm
in the canton
of Aargau
in Switzerland
.
. In 1236, ownership of part of village went to Engelberg Abbey
, in 1266 it transferred to the Monastery of St. Leonhard in Basel, and in 1274 to the Knights of Malta. The secular owners of the village included the Counts of Lenzburg, then in 1173 the Counts of Kyburg
, in 1273 the Kyburg rights transferred to the Habsburgs. The village was ruled by the Habsburg vassal
s, the Counts of Reinach. By this time, the local castle is no longer mentioned. The rights to low justice
remained in the hands of wealthy citizens of Gontenschwil. After the conquest of the Aargau by Bern in 1415, Gontenschwil formed its own court within the district of Lenzburg.
The church, first mentioned in 1340, was a daughter church
to the parish church
in nearby Pfeffikon
. After a long struggle (1488–98) between Bern and Lucerne
over the Protestant Reformation
, the village became an independent, Reformed parish. The currently existing church was built in 1622.
Economically, apart from agriculture, there are a number of small businesses. In 1640 the Schwarzenberg mineral water spring was discovered. This spring flourished from the 19th Century until the First World War and was used until 1990 for the production of bottled water. In the 18 and 19 Centuries the cotton spinning and weaving industries dominated. These large industries meant that Gontenschwil had the second largest population in the Kulm district. After the collapse of the mid-19th Century due to a lack of hydroelectric power, tobacco processing partly replaced the cotton industry. In 1900, in a disused water mill, an aluminum foundry was built. This developed into the Menziken aluminum factory. Other local factories produce washing machines and foam and plastic products. The clinic for addicts has been in Hasel since 1973.
Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 1.8% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 7.1% and transportation infrastructure made up 3.6%. 24.1% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.8% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 29.4% is used for growing crops and 26.4% is pastures, while 4.5% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.
The municipality is located in the Kulm district. It is located hinter der Egg or behind the left-hand side moraine
that was left behind after the Reuss glacier retreated from the upper Wynen valley at the end of the last Ice Age
. It consists of the village of Gontenschwil and the hamlets
of Geisshof (that transferred from Reinach to Gontenschwil in 1901) and Hasel.
of the municipal coat of arms
is Argent a Pine Tree issuant from a Base Vert between in chief two Hearts Gules.
The age distribution, , in Gontenschwil is; 196 children or 9.3% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 249 teenagers or 11.8% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 262 people or 12.4% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 245 people or 11.6% are between 30 and 39, 377 people or 17.9% are between 40 and 49, and 278 people or 13.2% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 241 people or 11.4% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 166 people or 7.9% are between 70 and 79, there are 75 people or 3.6% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 19 people or 0.9% who are 90 and older.
the average number of residents per living room was 0.54 which is about equal to the cantonal average of 0.57 per room. In this case, a room is defined as space of a housing unit of at least 4 m² (43.1 sq ft) as normal bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, kitchens and habitable cellars and attics. About 57.4% of the total households were owner occupied, or in other words did not pay rent (though they may have a mortgage
or a rent-to-own agreement).
, there were 60 homes with 1 or 2 persons in the household, 387 homes with 3 or 4 persons in the household, and 347 homes with 5 or more persons in the household. The average number of people per household was 2.45 individuals. , there were 818 private households (homes and apartments) in the municipality, and an average of 2.4 persons per household. there were 391 single family homes (or 42.2% of the total) out of a total of 926 homes and apartments. There were a total of 17 empty apartments for a 1.8% vacancy rate. , the construction rate of new housing units was 1 new units per 1000 residents.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SVP
which received 47% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP
(13%), the SP
(12.7%) and the CSP
(9.3%).
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Gontenschwil about 70.8% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
). Of the school age population , there are 152 students attending primary school, there are 98 students attending secondary school in the municipality.
The historical population is given in the following table:
.
there were 998 workers who lived in the municipality. Of these, 694 or about 69.5% of the residents worked outside Gontenschwil while 467 people commuted into the municipality for work. There were a total of 771 jobs (of at least 6 hours per week) in the municipality. Of the working population, 7.8% used public transportation to get to work, and 54.1% used a private car.
. Of the rest of the population, there was 1 individual who belonged to the Christian Catholic
faith.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
in the district of Kulm
Kulm (district)
Kulm District is a district in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland. It is located west of Lake Hallwil and covers parts of the Wyna and Suhre valleys. The principal town is Unterkulm; the largest municipality is Reinach. The district contains 17 municipalities, is 101.35 km² in area and has a...
in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
History
Gontenschwil is first mentioned in 1173 as Gundoltswilre in a grant to the monastery at BeromünsterBeromünster
Beromünster is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. On 1 January 2009 Gunzwil became part of Beromünster.-History:...
. In 1236, ownership of part of village went to Engelberg Abbey
Engelberg Abbey
Engelberg Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Engelberg, Canton of Obwalden, Switzerland. It was formerly in the Diocese of Constance, but now in the Diocese of Chur...
, in 1266 it transferred to the Monastery of St. Leonhard in Basel, and in 1274 to the Knights of Malta. The secular owners of the village included the Counts of Lenzburg, then in 1173 the Counts of Kyburg
House of Kyburg
The House of Kyburg was family of Grafen or counts from Zürich in Switzerland. The family was one of the three most powerful noble families in the Swiss plateau beside the Habsburg and the House of Savoy during the 11th and 12th Centuries...
, in 1273 the Kyburg rights transferred to the Habsburgs. The village was ruled by the Habsburg vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
s, the Counts of Reinach. By this time, the local castle is no longer mentioned. The rights to low justice
High, middle and low justice
High, middle and low justices are notions dating from Western feudalism to indicate descending degrees of judiciary power to administer justice by the maximal punishment the holders could inflict upon their subjects and other dependents....
remained in the hands of wealthy citizens of Gontenschwil. After the conquest of the Aargau by Bern in 1415, Gontenschwil formed its own court within the district of Lenzburg.
The church, first mentioned in 1340, was a daughter church
Chapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
to the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in nearby Pfeffikon
Pfeffikon
Pfeffikon is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Pfeffikon is first mentioned in 1045 as Faffinchouen though this comes from a 14th Century copy of the original document. In 1173 it was mentioned as Phafinchon.-Geography:Pfeffikon has an area of...
. After a long struggle (1488–98) between Bern and Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
over the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, the village became an independent, Reformed parish. The currently existing church was built in 1622.
Economically, apart from agriculture, there are a number of small businesses. In 1640 the Schwarzenberg mineral water spring was discovered. This spring flourished from the 19th Century until the First World War and was used until 1990 for the production of bottled water. In the 18 and 19 Centuries the cotton spinning and weaving industries dominated. These large industries meant that Gontenschwil had the second largest population in the Kulm district. After the collapse of the mid-19th Century due to a lack of hydroelectric power, tobacco processing partly replaced the cotton industry. In 1900, in a disused water mill, an aluminum foundry was built. This developed into the Menziken aluminum factory. Other local factories produce washing machines and foam and plastic products. The clinic for addicts has been in Hasel since 1973.
Geography
Gontenschwil has an area, , of 9.74 square kilometres (3.8 sq mi). Of this area, 5.87 square kilometres (2.3 sq mi) or 60.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 2.53 square kilometre (0.976838461239114 sq mi) or 26.0% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.32 square kilometre (0.509654849342146 sq mi) or 13.6% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.05 km² (12.4 acre) or 0.5% is either rivers or lakes.Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 1.8% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 7.1% and transportation infrastructure made up 3.6%. 24.1% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.8% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 29.4% is used for growing crops and 26.4% is pastures, while 4.5% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.
The municipality is located in the Kulm district. It is located hinter der Egg or behind the left-hand side moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
that was left behind after the Reuss glacier retreated from the upper Wynen valley at the end of the last Ice Age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
. It consists of the village of Gontenschwil and the hamlets
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Geisshof (that transferred from Reinach to Gontenschwil in 1901) and Hasel.
Coat of arms
The blazonBlazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
of the municipal coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is Argent a Pine Tree issuant from a Base Vert between in chief two Hearts Gules.
Demographics
Gontenschwil has a population of , 15.7% of the population are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (1997–2007) the population has changed at a rate of -0.4%. Most of the population speaks German (92.7%), with Serbo-Croatian being second most common ( 1.8%) and Albanian being third ( 1.7%).The age distribution, , in Gontenschwil is; 196 children or 9.3% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 249 teenagers or 11.8% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 262 people or 12.4% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 245 people or 11.6% are between 30 and 39, 377 people or 17.9% are between 40 and 49, and 278 people or 13.2% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 241 people or 11.4% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 166 people or 7.9% are between 70 and 79, there are 75 people or 3.6% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 19 people or 0.9% who are 90 and older.
the average number of residents per living room was 0.54 which is about equal to the cantonal average of 0.57 per room. In this case, a room is defined as space of a housing unit of at least 4 m² (43.1 sq ft) as normal bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, kitchens and habitable cellars and attics. About 57.4% of the total households were owner occupied, or in other words did not pay rent (though they may have a mortgage
Mortgage loan
A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
or a rent-to-own agreement).
, there were 60 homes with 1 or 2 persons in the household, 387 homes with 3 or 4 persons in the household, and 347 homes with 5 or more persons in the household. The average number of people per household was 2.45 individuals. , there were 818 private households (homes and apartments) in the municipality, and an average of 2.4 persons per household. there were 391 single family homes (or 42.2% of the total) out of a total of 926 homes and apartments. There were a total of 17 empty apartments for a 1.8% vacancy rate. , the construction rate of new housing units was 1 new units per 1000 residents.
In the 2007 federal election
Swiss federal election, 2007
Elections to the Swiss Federal Assembly, the federal parliament of Switzerland, were held on Sunday, 21 October 2007. In a few cantons, a second round of the elections to the Council of States was held on 11 November, 18 November, and 25 November 2007...
the most popular party was the SVP
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
which received 47% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
(13%), the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(12.7%) and the CSP
Christian Social Party (Switzerland)
The Christian Social Party is a political party in Switzerland. The CSP is more social democratic than the CVP. With the moderate Christian left as its background, the CSP commits itself to social democratic and environmentalist political solutions...
(9.3%).
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Gontenschwil about 70.8% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
). Of the school age population , there are 152 students attending primary school, there are 98 students attending secondary school in the municipality.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1653 | 545 |
| 1850 | 2,297 |
| 1900 | 1,646 |
| 1950 | 2,102 |
| 2000 | 2,055 |
Heritage sites of national significance
The Fischerhübel house at Fischerhübel 200 is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significanceSwiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
.
Economy
, Gontenschwil had an unemployment rate of 1.59%. , there were 98 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 38 businesses involved in this sector. 458 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 31 businesses in this sector. 378 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 58 businesses in this sector.there were 998 workers who lived in the municipality. Of these, 694 or about 69.5% of the residents worked outside Gontenschwil while 467 people commuted into the municipality for work. There were a total of 771 jobs (of at least 6 hours per week) in the municipality. Of the working population, 7.8% used public transportation to get to work, and 54.1% used a private car.
Religion
From the , 327 or 15.9% were Roman Catholic, while 1,353 or 65.8% belonged to the Swiss Reformed ChurchSwiss Reformed Church
The Reformed branch of Protestantism in Switzerland was started in Zürich by Huldrych Zwingli and spread within a few years to Basel , Bern , St...
. Of the rest of the population, there was 1 individual who belonged to the Christian Catholic
Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
The Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland is the Swiss member church of the Union of Utrecht, also known as Old Catholic Church, originally founded by the jansenists, with a later influx of discontented Catholics following their disappointment with the First Vatican Council. It has 14,000...
faith.